2015 recap

Now that we are a month into the new year I thought it would be good to post a recap of our last year. It was a busy one! Here are the happy highlights...

Hiking to see the petroglyphs near our house.

Gymnastics!!

Hiking at redneck with our cute visitors the Tullis family!

Princess tea party!

Our baby turned 3!

Valentines party with preschool friends!

Seeing the Belagio gardens with Granddad.

James earning a stripe on his white belt!

Seeing the sharks with Bonnie

Checking out the lizards with grandpa

Another fun preschool Field trip 

Ballet

First family run

Crazy boys finding dinosaur eggs in the desert

First visit to the dentist! No cavities!!!

Easter Egg hunt with church friends

James Learning to mow the lawn

James would stop and "stretch" during "long" bike rides.

Celebrating James 5th birthday at LEGOLAND!

Meeting Emett was a BIG deal!

Day two

Madeline LOVED the water park!

Our sea captains

Time in San Diego wouldn't be complete with out Cousin time! Here the boys are being Box Trolls.

House hunting in Omaha! Dave and I were able to sneak away for a weekend to find a home in our new town of Omaha while my mom stayed with the kids. We looked at over 30 homes. Dave's face kinda says it all.

Mother's Day

Just before our move we were able to do one last trip to our favorite place, DISNEYLAND!!

Granddad's first time to Disneyland in 40 years!! He went on every ride he could, including the roller coasters!

James FAVORITE ride, Splash Mountain!

Star struck!

It was a magical time at the happiest place!

Before we left Cali we were able to see and say goodbye to these cuties!

Goodbye pool party!

We said a hundred good-byes and shed a few tears. Bonnie and Grandpa came and picked up the kids and took them to Utah while Dave and I finished packing, cleaning and closing on our beloved Home. It was a long hard process and leaving was very sad but we were so excited for our new adventure in Nebraska!

Playing with cousins on our way to Omaha!

It was a LONG drive from Vegas to Omaha over 18 hours. The kids were SO good the whole time! Ice-cream helped.

Naps too!

When we got to Omaha we went straight for our soon to be home and we found the SOLD sign!
That day we met all our new neighbors, even before we closed. They are now some of our dearest friends and the main reason we are so happy here and feel lucky to have found this house!

It felt like we were living in a hotel for ages.

Dave headed back to work in Las Vegas after closing. My parents, Lady and Grandpa, were thankfully in town helping me with the kids when the moving truck arrived. It was a long month in our new home without daddy but we found ways to entertain ourselves.

Checking out the Mormon Trail Center.

Fourth of July with the neighbors

Soon after getting settled the visitors came!

Uncle Jeff brought Granddad to stay with us so we went to see some of the sights of down town Omaha.

Checking out the prairie preserve just a short walk from our house.

Play dates with new friends.

My first piano!!!

The Wild Animal Park

James' favorite place in Omaha is definitely the air and space museum...and the zoo...

James first pet. A frog our neighbors caught on a camping trip.

James' first day of school! He was SO happy and excited. Maddie wanted to go to.

I had a really hard time with the idea of all day Kindergarten.

Thankfully James had his new best friend and neighbor Nick in his class. 

Dave and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We just had a quite celebration at home with the kids. Like usual just have pictures of the two of them. We were there too though.

We went to the zoo ALOT.

Maddie's Favorite part is feeing these cute little birds.

James kinda liked it too.

Going to go see the Lemers, James' all time favorite!

Madeline started Preschool with these cuties. We only did the co-op for a few months, but it was fun while it lasted!

We planted a garden. We couldn't believe how much we got!! The kids were so good about helping to weed and harvest.

We had so much extra from the garden I learned to can.

We did a quick weekend trip to Historic Nauvoo. It was one of the best family trips we have done.

Maddie started gymnastics in Omaha

James started learning the piano, here he is practicing something he composed.

James ran his first run-a-thon.

It was crazy cold that day but the kids were troopers. James ran the whole time and he did just under 2 miles!

James with his cute kindergarten class and awesome teacher Mrs. Perrone.

Trip to the Pumpkin patch

Hikes at Fontenelle Forest.

More trips to the zoo.

Maddie and her preschool Co-op

This Girls LOVES to learn!

Our last crop.

Carving Pumpkins

It has been SO fun having seasons again!

One of our favorite walks around a lake near our home.

Coco by the fire once the cold began.

Pedicures with Lady when she came for Halloween to bring Granddad.

Halloween Pictures with the Neighborhood gang.

Look at those leaves!!! Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf.

Thanksgiving with Granddad.

Getting ready for Christmas.

Santa!

Gingerbread houses

Trip to the train museum.

Lots and lots of time the snow!

prepping for Christmas Eve Dinner

James' letter to Santa

One excited boy on Christmas morning!

Perfecting ending to a perfect Christmas!

We started the new year Ice Skating at Daddy's work.

Looking back I am so grateful for this past year. For our health, family and friends. I am so grateful for all this year has taught me and where it has taken our little family. Here is to a WONDERFUL 2016!!